ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday issued a stark warning to Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, saying any further attacks on Pakistani soil would be met with a fierce response.
His statement followed confirmation from Islamabad that peace talks between the two neighbours, held in Istanbul, had collapsed.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar earlier announced the failure of the latest round of negotiations — mediated by Türkiye and Qatar — which aimed to address Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism originating from Afghan territory.
Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, Pakistan has faced a sharp surge in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory. The TTP’s operational networks have expanded under what security analysts describe as a “resurgence” enabled by Taliban patronage. These attacks have targeted civilians, security forces, and border posts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated since early October, following deadly cross-border attacks. Subsequent skirmishes along the border, including Pakistani retaliatory strikes on Gul Bahadur group camps inside Afghanistan, have pushed both sides to the brink of open conflict.
“Test Us at Your Own Peril”
“We have borne your treachery and mockery for too long, but no more,” Asif wrote on X. “Any terrorist attack or suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures. Be rest assured and test our resolve and capabilities, if you wish so, at your own peril and doom.”
The minister’s comments marked the most direct and public warning by Islamabad since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of allowing banned groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to use Afghan soil for attacks inside Pakistan.
Asif accused the Taliban leadership of deliberately cultivating instability for vested interests, saying that “the war mongers amongst the Taliban regime, who have vested interests in the continuation of instability in the region, should know that they have probably misread our resolve and courage”. He warned that any miscalculation would be costly for Kabul.
He went on to add: “If the Taliban regime wants to fight us, the world will Insha Allah (God willing) see that their threats are only performative circus!”
Talks Derail Amid Last-Minute Afghan Reversal
According to Pakistani officials, the Afghan delegation abruptly withdrew from a near-final draft agreement in Istanbul, derailing four days of negotiations. The talks had been expected to finalize a framework for border security cooperation following an earlier temporary ceasefire agreed in Doha.
Officials described the Afghan side’s conduct as “provocative” and marked by “last-minute reversals,” deepening mistrust between the two countries. Islamabad’s key demand — verifiable action against anti-Pakistan militants based in Afghanistan — remained unaddressed.
Pakistan’s Frustration Grows
Information Minister Tarar earlier said Islamabad had “repeatedly engaged” with the Taliban regarding “persistent cross-border terrorism by India-abetted terrorists.” He accused Kabul of reneging on its commitments under the 2020 Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism.
“Pakistan’s fervent efforts proved futile due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists,” Tarar said, adding that Islamabad would “take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens.”
Tarar said sufficient and irrefutable evidence was provided by Pakistan, which was acknowledged by the Afghan Taliban and the hosts; however, regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances.
The Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue, evading the key point upon which the dialogue process was initiated, he added. Instead of accepting any responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to a blame game, deflection, and ruses. “The dialogue thus failed to bring about any workable solution,” said Tarar.
A Fragile Peace
The breakdown of the Istanbul talks marks a major setback for regional stability, with Pakistan’s patience wearing thin and the Taliban showing little willingness to rein in militant networks. Analysts warn that renewed hostilities could undo years of fragile engagement between the two sides — and further destabilize the broader South and Central Asian region.
Syed Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst, observed that the Afghan Taliban’s approach during the Istanbul Talks appeared calculated to delay progress, divert attention from counterterrorism, and avoid binding international commitments.
“Their diplomatic strategy clearly reflects a reluctance to engage sincerely — using delay tactics, shifting the agenda away from counterterrorism, and resisting any clear, verifiable commitment to act against Afghanistan-based groups such as the TTP and BLA,” he said.
